New color combinations

After taking a color workshop a few weeks ago, I was anxious to put my new knowledge to work!  I picked out this big hollow bead of mine and went to work choosing from my piles and drawers of stone, glass and seed beads.  Choosing 2 colors is pretty easy for me, but adding a 3rd and/or 4th color can be a challenge!  This necklace has 4 colors- blue (light and dark), purple, red-purple and lime green.  I look for different shapes, sizes, and textures.  For some reason, this particular necklace took 8 attempts, but I am finally happy with it. 

Little beads

  I make these little beads for several reasons.  First, they are a good way to test new color combinations- I make small ones before I make the commitment of a big bead.  Secondly, I love to layer colors, and the results are not always predictable.  Sometimes there are good surprises and sometimes not, and the difference is not always instantly apparent.  Sometimes I have to "live with" a new color combination for a while.

This size is also very good for earrings, so I try to have a tray full of them in many different colors.  When I am working on making earrings for a show, I like to have lots of choices!  Since I mostly use them in pairs, and people mostly buy them in pairs, I end up with lots of orphans.  One of these days I will have to design a necklace with them!

Beadfest 2010

This week I have been busy making beads for Beadfest Philadelphia, Aug 20-22.  I stumbled on a new color combination that I love, and I can't stop making them in different sizes.  When I am getting ready for a big show is not a good time to be experimenting, but sometimes I have to go with the flow.  The base color is dark turquoise, a color I hardly ever use, so imagine my surprise when it worked so well.  Sometimes the raised dots reduce, but not always, and I haven't figured out why.  Ahhh, the mysteries of reduction!